What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
In a context of dwindling biodiversity, Swiss voters will deceide on September 22 on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of species and ecosystems. Have your say on the vote and the wider issue of biodiversity.
The “biodiversity initiative”, launched by conservationists and environmental groups, calls for boosted funding and more protected areas in Switzerland.
The backers of the initiative say it’s necessary to act now to prevent the extinction of numerous species, which would lead to huge costs. Opponents say the proposal is extreme and inefficient.
What do you think? Is it time for Switzerland and other countries to take more measures to protect biodiversity? What are the solutions?
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Swiss ‘biodiversity initiative’: extreme or essential for protecting nature?
Every year there are new initiatives against farmers. Say it once: we don't want any more farmers in Switzerland, or winegrowers who only produce wine, or motorways and buildings that damage the landscape and biodiversity. These people deserve to go to prison, because if there is a future COVID and the borders are closed, the population will starve. So the initiators are criminals. Tell young people that we don't want any more farmers, that way it will be clear. Save on direct payments and administration. Wolves and lynxes will be left alone in the countryside, while scrub, vermin and starvation will return. That's what our Green and Left-wing elected representatives, accompanied by medieval biologists, are concocting for us.
The best thing to do would be to abolish direct payments and do what some countries do: big companies invest in huge agricultural structures, take the best, and the State takes care of the unexploited land. A fine programme in the event of a yes vote.
Chaque année de nouvelles initiatives à l'encontre des paysans. Dites une fois : on ne veut plus paysans en Suisse, ni de vignerons , qui ne produisent que du vin, ni d'autoroutes et de constructions qui abîment le paysage et la biodiversité. Ces personnes, méritent la prison, car en cas de COVID futur, et frontières fermées , la population mourra de faim. Donc les initiants, sont des criminels . Dites aux jeunes , on ne veut plus de paysan, ainsi ce sera clair. Économie de paiements directs, d'administration . Loups, Lynx , tranquilles dans nos campagnes, broussailles, vermines et famine. Voilà ce que nous concoctent nos élus Verts et de Gauche, accompagnés de biologistes moyenâgeux.
Le mieux, est de supprimer les paiements directs, faire comme dans certains Pays, soit : de grandes firmes, investissent dans d'immenses structures agricoles, prennent le meilleur , et l'Etat s'occupe des terres inexploitées. Beau Programme en cas de oui.
My country, Peru, is not only beautiful, but also MEGADIVERSE. One of the problems in maintaining this natural wealth is ILLEGAL MINING. Today, it is more of a concern than coca production. A STRONG government that is not filtered by criminal organisations is needed. There is little that can be done about this, except to hope for a strong leadership to emerge in the 2026 general elections. Hopefully voices of responsible citizen conscience will persuade political apathy.
We are a great global lung and I do NOT want us to be driven off a cliff by lousy political practices.
Mi país, el Perú, no solo es bello, sino también MEGADIVERSO. Uno de los problemas para mantener esta riqueza natural es la MINERÍA ILEGAL. Hoy en día, está preocupando más que la producción de coca. Se necesita un gobierno FUERTE que no esté filtrado por las organizaciones criminales. Es poco lo que se puede hacer al respecto, salvo esperar un liderazgo firme que se alce en las elecciones generales del 2026. Ojala que las voces de conciencia ciudadana responsable persuadan a la apatía política.
Somos un gran pulmón mundial y NO quiero que se nos lleve a un despeñadero por las pésimas prácticas políticas.
The constant expansion of blacktopped roads and public areas to serve the never ending onslaught of people coming to Switzerland must stop. I voted in favour, fully aware I might sadly be a minority vote. The buck has to stop here. Our children must learn at home and in school that it is everybody's responsibility to care for our environment. People who litter and disrespect our nature must be stopped by heavy fines and personal inconvenience. In the California it is mandatory to spend days cleaning up the side of freeways if caught driving under the influence. A portable TOI accompanies the offender each day. The same could be implemented here in CH to punish people who litter and drive under the influence. These imposed Tagessaetze at Frank 10.00 and little more are an absolute joke issued by our justice system.
Crop rotation plans, mountain pastures and living landscapes, with a forest - pasture divide, like nowhere else, thanks to the work of the mountain people, who farm this land that cannot be mechanised, and who also produce high quality food that is good for your health. Close to where I live, young roe deer, hares, harmful or irritating insects (horseflies), etc. can be found in the mountains.
On the other hand, the concreting of the land, the queues of cars, the big spending gatherings, certain devastating sports, the masses of waste scattered in the fields and forests, are very harmful to biodiversity, especially in Switzerland, with its restricted productive areas. Everything can be improved, but too many people have no knowledge of agriculture and are unfortunately becoming extremists.
Les plans d'assolement, de rotation des cultures, Les alpages et paysages vivants, avec un découpage forêts - pâturages, comme nulle part ailleurs, grâce au travail des montagnards, qui exploitent ces terres non mécanisables,et de plus produisent de la nourriture de haut niveau pour la santé . Proche de chez moi, les jeunes chevreuils, lièvres , insectes nuisibles ou énervants ( taons )
Par contre, le bétonnage du territoire , les files de voitures, les grands rassemblements dépensiers, certains sports dévastateurs , les masses de déchets éparpillés dans les champs et forêts, sont très néfastes pour la biodiversité, surtout en Suisse, avec des surfaces productives restreintes. Tout est perfectible, mais trop d'individus , n'ont aucune connaissance de l'agriculture et deviennent malheureusement extrémistes .
Boa tarde a tod@s. It is the first time that I participate. I would like to denounce that in my land they ended or, if you like, exterminated its native forests with a great biodiversity of flora and fauna, reducing it to its minimum expression. All the reforestations that have taken place over the last 25 years, especially in the last 12 years, have been of eucalyptus trees, mainly for a pulp mill in the Pontevedra estuary, and our fear has increased this year with the news that a Portuguese multinational, ALTRi, intends to build another gigantic mill that will consume 240 million litres of water a day, extracted from one of our most important rivers, and with the right to make new plantations on its gigantic land on the periphery of its enormous mill. With the treachery of the deception that it was destined to the manufacture of textile fibre, all very ecological. Published in the press of our community it was reported that Galiza had more eucalyptus trees per square metre than in its native Australia, in short we only lack the Koalas. A pity
Boa tarde a tod@s. Es la primera vez que participo. Denunciar que en mi tierra terminaron o si se quiere exterminaron con sus bosques autóctonos con una gran biodiversidad de flora y fauna, quedando reducida a su minima expresión. Todas las reforestaciones que se producen desde los últimos 25 años , especialmente en los últimos 12 son de Eucaliptos destinados fundamentalmente a una fabrica de celulosa en la ria de Pontevedra y nuestro temor aumenta este año al conocerse que una multinacional Portuguesa ALTRi pretende la construcción de otra gigantesca con consumo de 240 millones de litros de agua diarios extraídos de uno de nuestros mas importantes rios y con derecho a hacer nuevas plantaciones en su terreno gigantesco periférico a su enorme fabrica. Con la alevosía de el engaño que estaba destinada a la fabricación de fibra textil, todo muy ecológico. Publicado en la prensa de nuestra comunidad se reseñaba que Galiza tenía mas eucaliptos por metro cuadrado que en su país originario Australia, en fin solo nos faltan los Koalas. Una pena
Hello,
Thank you for taking part in our debate. Your account is really interesting and shows that the problem is global. Are any measures being taken in your country to try to safeguard native forests?
Bonjour,
Merci de votre participation à notre débat. Votre témoignage est vraiment intéressant et montre que le problème est global. Des mesures sont-elles prises dans votre pays pour tenter de sauvegarder les forêts indigènes?
Species protection begins in the private garden (if available)!
Artenschutz beginnt schon im privaten Garten (falls vorhanden) !
That's true. Do you think steps should be taken to ensure that private gardens are cultivated in a sustainable way?
C'est vrai. Pensez-vous que des mesures devraient être prises pour s'assurer que les jardins privés soient cultivés de manière durable?
One solution could be, based on the European model, areas where economic activities (including farming) and nature protection coexist. It's far from perfect, but it's better than nothing, and it's called Natura 2000.
Une des solutions pourrait être, sur le modèle européen, des zones où activités économiques (dont agricoles) et protection de la nature cohabitent. C'est loin d'être parfait mais c'est mieux que rien et ça s'appelle Natura 2000.
Biodiversity and respect for nature are fundamental to a country. It is true that the greater or lesser love a citizen has for nature reserves is relative, but the citizen's duty to respect such places should always prevail. On the other hand, the government should also find different ways to relate its inhabitants to the natural world. For example, interest in the state's native vegetation, or interest in a certain type of animal, be it mammals or reptiles, is not the same for a citizen. All of this, without disregarding the laws of animal protection of all species. To this end, it would be interesting to have programmes in which citizens, together with well-trained professionals and starting from a safe situation, would try to relate society better to the flora and fauna of their country, including the disabled or handicapped population. César De Lucas Ivorra, San Juan De Alicante, Spain
La biodiversidad y el respeto por la naturaleza son fundamentales en un país. Es cierto, que el mayor o menor amor que pueda tener un ciudadano por las reservas naturales es relativo, pero siempre debe imperar el deber del ciudadano de respetar dichos lugares. También por otro lado, el gobierno debería encontrar diversas formas de relacionar a sus habitantes con el mundo natural. Por ejemplo, no es lo mismo el interés a nivel de la vegetación autóctona del estado, o el interés por un determinado tipo de animales ya sean mamíferos o reptiles, para un ciudadano. Todo ello, sin faltar a las leyes de protección animal de todas especies. Para ello, sería interesante programas en los que la ciudadanía junto con profesionales bien capacitados y partiendo de una situación segura, intentarán relacionar a la sociedad mejor con la flora y fauna de su país, incluyendo la población discapacitada o con problemas para ello. César De Lucas Ivorra, San Juan De Alicante, España
Hello,
Thank you for your interesting contribution. Indeed, knowing more about our environment certainly helps us to protect it better.
Bonjour,
Merci de votre intéressante contribution. En effet, mieux connaître son environnement aide certainement à mieux le protéger.
All measures should be taken.
Alle Massnahmen sollten ergriffen werden.
The initiative blatantly forgets that in Switzerland there is no shortage of biodiversity at all due to the land, but only due to the reckless use of pesticides worldwide and also due to the general pollution of soil, water and air. In fact, our forests continue to grow and spread, as do our meadows and uncultivated areas, which are now abandoned because they are unattractive to mechanised-industrial agriculture.
The real objective is therefore clearly missed and consequently this proposal will almost certainly be rejected.
L'iniziativa dimentica bellamente che in Svizzera non c'è affatto carenza di biodiversità dovuta al territorio, ma solo per l'uso scriteriato di pesticidi a livello mondiale e pure per via dell'inquinamento generale di suolo, acqua e aria. Infatti le nostre foreste continuano ad accrescersi e dilagare, e pure lo fanno prati e zone incolte, ormai abbandonate perché non interessanti per l'agricoltura meccanizzata-industriale.
L'obiettivo vero è perciò chiaramente mancato e di conseguenza questa proposta verrà quasi di sicuro bocciata.
The acquisition of environmental awareness,
it is not an easy task, it is cultivated every day......
Der Erwerb von Umweltbewusstsein,
es ist keine leichte Aufgabe, sie wird jeden Tag kultiviert......
I'd advise you to work on a farm for a year, and then you'll see all the conditions required to produce, live, work 75 hours a week, pay the bills, and so on. It's not easy.
Je vous conseille de travailler un an dans une ferme , et ensuite, vous constaterai toutes les conditions exigées pour produire, vivre, travailler 75 heure/semaine, payer les factures, etc. En effet , pas facile.
Large empty lawns that are not used for sunbathing or playing. are not used for sunbathing or playing.
Grosse leere Rasenflächen ,welche nicht zu. Liegen oder Spielen benützt werden,aufheben.
Lowland farming, with its crop diversification and rotation plans required by the Confederation, works in the opposite direction to profitability in order to guarantee biodiversity. In the Alpine region, pastures, natural meadows, copses, forests, farmland and fruit trees are all highly conducive to biodiversity, including wasps, mosquitoes and many other insects, birds, deer, foxes, hares and many others. On the other hand, the banks of roads, motorways and railways, with their thistles, noxious and invasive plants and shredders used twice a summer to kill biodiversity, must stop. The disrespectful concreting of farmland to enrich the property sector is the worst enemy of biodiversity.
L'agriculture de plaine, avec la diversification des cultures, les plans de rotation exigés par la Confédération, Travaille à l'envers de la rentabilité pour garantir la biodiversité. En région alpine , Les pâturages, les prairies naturelles, les bosquets, les forêts, les ruraux, les arbres fruitiers, favorisent beaucoup cette biodiversité, y compris guêpes, moustiques, et tant d'autres insectes, oiseaux, chevreuils, renards, lièvres et bien d'autres.Par contre, les bords de routes , autoroutes, de chemins de fer, avec les chardons, les plantes nuisibles, envahissantes, les broyeuses 2 x par été pour tuer toute biodiversité doivent cesser. Le bétonnages sans respect des terres agricoles, pour enrichir le secteur de l'immobilier , est le pire ennemi de la biodiversité.
I am very surprised that there is never any discussion about how much land disappears every day because of buildings. Neither insects nor birds find anything to live on there.
Mich wundert es sehr, dass nie darüber diskutiert wird wieviel Land jeden Tag wegen Bauten verschwindet. Dort finden weder Insekten noch Vögel etwas zum Leben.
Hello,
Thank you for your contribution. That's precisely what the authors of the initiative want: to make more room for nature.
Bonjour,
Merci de votre contribution. C'est justement ce que veulent les auteurs et autrices de l'initiative: réserver plus de place à la nature.
Once again, horror scenarios are being used to spread fear of life in order to regulate individual and economic life by the state.
Hier wird einmal mehr mit Horrorszenarien Lebensangst verbreitet um das individuelle und wirtschaftliche Leben staatlich zu regeln.
Really now? All the inaccessible forests in the Alps, which are hardly managed if they are not protected forests, should not count because they are not formally national parks? Not even the huge areas above the tree line if they are not managed? Very few hikers leave the hiking trails there, if they get beyond the Betg station at all. Let's not make ourselves worse than we are.
Which is definitely not possible if the initiative goes through: It is completely disproportionate to demand that, instead of more remote areas, as much easily accessible beautiful nature as possible should be declared nature reserves, and of course with bans on leaving the hiking trails or even entering the area at all. Otherwise, one might get the impression that the initiators are not primarily concerned with biodiversity, but with re-educating people.
Echt jetzt? All die unzugänglichen Wälder in den Alpen, welche kaum bewirtschaftet werden, falls sie keine Schutzwälder sind, die solllen nicht zählen, weil sie nicht formell Nationalparks sind? Auch nicht die riesigen Flächen oberhalb der Waldgrenze, soweit sie nicht bewirtschaftet werden? Es verlassen dort äusserst wenige Wanderer die Wanderwege, wenn sie überhaupt über die Betgstation hinauskommen. Machen wir uns doch nicht schlechter als wir sind.
Was auf keinen Fall geht, sollte die Initiative durchkommen: Völlig unverhältnissmässig zu fordern, man müsse, anstelle von abgelegeneren Gebieten, unbedingt möglichst viel einfach erreichbare schöne Natur zu Naturschutzgebieten erklärt werden, und dies natürlich mit Verboten die Wanderwege zu verlassen oder das Gebiet gar überhaupt zu betreten. Man würde ggf. sonst den Eindruck erhalten, es gehe den Initianten gar nicht primär um die Biodiversität, sondern um die Umerziehung von Menschen.
This initiative does not ask to impose taxes under the guise of green, it asks to safeguard green spaces, our waters, forests, animal species that are increasingly endangered. We must stop cementing everything. We must be more aware that we cannot have butterflies unless we first accept that a caterpillar eats some leaves.
Questa iniziativa non chiede di imporre tasse con la scusa del green, chiede di salvaguardare gli spazi verdi, le nostre acque, i boschi, le specie animali che sono sempre più in pericolo. Dobbiamo smetterla di cementificare tutto. Dobbiamo avere maggiore consapevolezza che non possiamo avere le farfalle se prima non accettiamo che un bruco mangi qualche foglia.
Good morning Cinzia
You are right: as we have also explained in this article, the spread of invasive species reduces biodiversity.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, invasive species are the second biggest cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. In Switzerland, their number has increased by about 50% since 1990.
Buongiorno Cinzia
Lei ha ragione: come abbiamo anche spiegato in questo articolo, la diffusione delle specie invasive riduce la biodiversità.
Secondo l’Unione internazionale per la conservazione della natura, le specie invasive sono la seconda causa della riduzione della biodiversità nel mondo. In Svizzera, il loro numero è aumentato di circa il 50% dal 1990.
Over a third of our native species are endangered according to federal data (i.e. not only according to the opinion of nature and environmental protection organisations). The figure for habitat types is more than half. Despite some successes, the efforts and measures taken to date by the various stakeholders to protect and promote the diversity of species and habitats as well as genetic diversity are not enough to bring about a comprehensive turnaround. As we enjoy biodiversity and a near-natural landscape and biodiversity also brings us benefits - e.g. erosion control, drinking water purification, pollination, water storage and much more - this initiative would be a good opportunity to preserve and promote our natural environment for future generations. Incidentally, the carefully worded initiative text does not mention a 30% area size.
Über ein Drittel unserer einheimischen Arten ist gefährdet gemäss Daten des Bundes (also nicht nur gemäss der Meinung der Natur- und Umweltschutzverbänden). Bei den Lebensraumtypen ist es mehr als die Hälfte. Trotz einiger Erfolge reichen aber die bisherigen Anstrengungen und Massnahmen der verschiedenen Akteure zum Schutz und zur Förderung der Vielfalt von Arten und Lebensräumen sowie der genetischen Diversität nicht aus, um eine umfassende Trendwende herbeizuführen. Da wir Artenvielfalt und eine naturnahe Landschaft geniessen und uns die Biodiversität auch Nutzen bringt - z.B. beim Erosionsschutz, Trinkwasserreinigung, Bestäubung, Wasserspeicherung und vieles mehr - wäre diese Initiative eine gute Möglichkeit unsere Natur auch für zukünftige Generationen zu erhalten und zu fördern. Übrigens werden im vorsichtig formulierten Initiativtext keine 30% Flächengrösse erwähnt.
Hello,
Thank you for your contribution! It's true that the text doesn't mention a percentage of land to be protected. However, opponents believe that this is the objective of the organisations that launched the initiative.
Bonjour,
Merci de votre contribution! Effectivement, le texte ne mentionne pas de pourcentage de terres à protéger. Les opposantes et opposants estiment toutefois que c'est l'objectif des organisations qui ont lancé l'initiative.
When I hear discussions like the one on biodiversity, I find myself asking a couple of questions. One is, are we dealing with animals and plants that are native to the environment? Or are invasive species being included. Another is if plants and or animals becoming extinct, is this a natural progression or if not, what is the real cause? One being invasive species.
Biodiversity of animals and plants. Be careful, however, invasive neophyte species must be stopped because precisely because of their invasiveness they eliminate other native species. Examples are the Japanese polygon (plant), or the Japanese beetle (insect), which has no natural predators at our latitudes and causes considerable damage to our crops.
Biodiversità di animali e piante. Ma attenzione, le specie neofite invasive vanno tuttavia fermate perché proprio per la loro invadenza eliminano le altre specie autoctone. Esempio il poligono del Giappone (pianta), o il coleottero giapponese (insetto) che non ha predatori naturali alle nostre latitudini e causa danni non indifferenti alle nostre coltivazioni.
I agree, where I live there are invasive plants along with invasive animals such as the zebra mussel in the great lakes that are extremely damaging. Yet nothing is being done and it appears that the government is protecting them along with the native species which are being displaced and destroyed. This is affecting the quality of life around the great lakes.
Hello,
Invasive species are an interesting topic. We talked about it in this article: https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/science/le-recul-de-la-biodiversite-en-suisse-en-six-graphiques/84166092
Bonjour,
Le thème des espèces invasive est effectivement intéressant. Nous en parlions dans cet article: https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/science/le-recul-de-la-biodiversite-en-suisse-en-six-graphiques/84166092
invasive species
des espèces invasives
Initial comment:
1.- The natural evolution itself of the diverse forms of life in "our world", is provoking changes that derive in new forms of life and the disappearance of species, which is "natural". The problem, I believe, is when our species intervenes in a way that is not "natural" and "unsustainable".
2.- In Chile I have seen how nature has been intervened, due to negligent human intervention. Since 1990, I have seen how new forms of life have arrived that strongly damage the environment. I am referring to the "abaroa" mite and the "yellow jacket" wasp (vespula germánica) which seriously affect bees.
In other areas the same has happened, for example with the "pine moth".
The "fruit fly" has now invaded most of the fruit-growing areas.
The list is long. The latest entry came from Asia (China), the "giant wasp", which wipes out everything in its path, including human copulation.
3.- Rather than "attacking" these new hosts, we must act PROACTIVELY, by preventing the entry of these species.
4.- Finally: Far more serious is the development of life forms that do not currently exist. China, as well as the attempted. The Nazis and the former USSR also tried, but failed. Remember the last pandemics, they have already warned of new ones.
NOTE: AI is something similar, there is no natural "antidote", it only counts on "human error" as an ally. This turns out to be worse.
Conclusion: We should continue to imitate nature in its millenary wise management and not play at being ambiguous "all-knowing" gods.
Chile is losing an important part of the "paradise" it used to be.
Comentario inicial:
1.- La propia evolución natural de las diversas formas de vida de "nuestro mundo", va provocando cambios que derivan en nuevas formas de vida y de la desaparición de especies, lo cual es "natural". La problemática, creo yo, es cuando nuestra especie interviene de manera no "natural" y "no sustentable".
2.- En Chile he visto cómo se ha intervenido la naturaleza, debido a una negligente intervención humana. Desde 1990, he visto cómo han llegado nuevas formas de vida que dañan fuertemente el medio ambiente. Me refiero a ácaro "abaroa" y a la avispa "chaqueta amarilla" (vespula germánica) las cuales afectan gravemente a las abejas.
En otras áreas ocurre lo mismo ha ocurrido, por ejemplo con la "polilla del pino".
Actualmente la "mosca de la fruta" ya invadió la mayor parte de las zonas frutícolas.
La lista es larga. El último ingreso llegó de asia (China), la avispa gigante", la cual arrasa con todo a su paso, incluso cob humanos.
3.- Más que "atacar" a estos nuevos huéspedes, se debe actuar de MANERA PROACTIVA, por medio de evitar su ingreso de estas especies.
4.- Por último: Bastante más grave es el desarrollo de formas de vida que actualmente no existen. China, a igual que lo intentado. Los nazis y la ex-URSS, también lo intentaron, pero no lo lograron. Recuerden las últimas pandemias, ya han advertidio otras nuevas.
NOTA: La IA es algo similar, no existe un "antídoto" naturas solo cuenta con "el error humano" como aliado". Esto resulta ser peor.
Conclusión: Debiéramos seguir imitando la naturaleza en su sabia milenaria gestión y no jugar a ser dioses ambiscosos que "todo lo saben".
Chile esta perdiendo parte importante del "paraíso" que era.
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